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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's ruling Shiite Coordination Framework on Monday endorsed the outcomes of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's recent visit to the United States, while pledging not to provide political protection for anyone found guilty of corruption, regardless of their political affiliation.
Following a briefing between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zaidi and Iraq’s Coordination Framework leaders regarding his Washington visit, the coalition issued a statement backing the government’s support and implementation of the “agreements and understandings that have been reached in a way that strengthens Iraq's international standing, protects its sovereignty, and serves to attract investment and create job opportunities.”
The statement comes days after Zaidi concluded a week-long visit to Washington, leading a high-level Iraqi delegation that signed 48 agreements, memoranda of understanding, cooperation accords, and partnership declarations with US counterparts across multiple sectors.
The Shiite Coordination Framework, Iraq's largest ruling political alliance and the primary Shiite parliamentary bloc, is an Iran-backed umbrella coalition representing several Shiite parties. Holding constitutional authority to nominate Iraq’s prime minister, the bloc collectively negotiates government formation, nominates the prime minister, and designates ministers during the government formation process.
The meeting also focused on Iraq's anti-corruption campaign, with the ruling coalition reiterating its backing for judicial institutions.
The Framework affirmed its "continued and full support for the government, the judiciary, and the Integrity Commission in pursuing corruption, protecting public funds, recovering looted assets, and holding those involved accountable in accordance with the law."
It further stressed that it "will not provide political cover for any individual whose involvement in corruption cases is proven by the competent judicial authorities," adding that legal action should apply to all suspects "regardless of their affiliation" to ensure the integrity of the anti-corruption campaign.
In June, Iraq launched a nationwide anti-corruption campaign known as Operation Dawn, which has led to the arrest of dozens of current and former officials and the recovery of significant sums of stolen public funds which include ongoing investigations well into July.
The most recent recovery took place the past week when the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) announced the seizure of 375 kilograms of gold linked to the latest corruption investigation involving former deputy oil minister Adnan al-Jumaili.
To date, the operation has led to the confiscation of assets linked to Jumaili worth at least 127 billion Iraqi dinars (about $97 million), $24 million in cash, real estate, vehicles, and gold jewelry.
The coalition has voiced support for Zaidi’s outreach in Washington amid constrained relations with the US over the presence of Iran-backed militias within its bloc, as the Prime Minister works to integrate within its state institutions.
Amid pressure from Washington to disarm non-state actors within Iraq’s government framework, several Iran-backed groups have complied with integration in an effort to remain part of Iraq’s institutional framework ahead of the scheduled September 30 departure of the US and foreign military missions.
